Means for transmitting motion to distant points.



No. 664,594. Patented Dec. 25, 1900. n. P. mouse". MEANS FORTRANSMITTING MOTION TU DISTANT POINTS.

(Appiication filed Sept. 29, 1900.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modal.)

Witnesses David F? Thomson n45 noflms PEYERS co, wow-urns. \VASHIPatente'd Dec. 25. 1900.

O. P. THOMSON. MEANS FOR TBANSIITTING MOTION TO DISTANT POINTS.

(Appficntion filed Sept. 29, 1900.)

2 Shaets$heet 2.

(No Nodal.)

T 1'] Inventor.

David D. Thomson.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID P. THOMSON, OE LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION TO DISTANT POINTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,594, dated December25, 1900.

Application filed September 29, 1900. Serial No. 31,542. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, DAVID P. THOMSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Means for Transmitting Motion toDist-ant Points, (Case No. 1,122,) of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to means for transmitting motion to a distantpoint, and has for its object to provide a new and improved systemwhereby an apparatus at a point removed from the point of control may becaused to move through a definite predetermined distance or step eachtime that a controlling device at the point of control is moved from oneposition to another.

While my invention is capable of general application Whenever it isdesired to produce a predetermined movement at a point or points removedfrom the point of control, it is particularly adapted to a system ofdistance control for electric motors in which it is desired that amovement of a master-controller over one step shall cause acorresponding movement of a motor-controller at a distant point. Suchsystems of motor control are now frequently employed on electric-railwaytrains for effecting from any desired point on the train thesimultaneous movement of the motor-controllers on a number ofmotor-cars. Since my invention comprises features which render itespecially advantageous in this connection, I have chosen to illustrateit as applied to a train-control system.

The train-control systems in use at the present time may be divided intotwo classes, distinguished from one another by the construction of themotor-controllers. In systems of the one class the motor-controllers areof the type commonly used in streetrailway systerns-that is to say, themovable contacts of the controller are mounted on a common cylindricalsupport and areso arranged that as the cylinder is revolved they will becaused to engage with a set of fixed contacts to which themotor-circuits are connected. In systems of the other class themotor-controllers are of the separately-actuated contact type, or, inother words, the movable contacts instead of being mounted on a commoncylinder are separately mounted adjacent to their corresponding fixedcontacts and are provided with a controlling system so arranged thatthey may be independently operated. In both of the above-mentionedclasses electromagnetic devices have been employed to actuate thecontroller-contacts, such devices taking in the one case the form ofsolenoids, one for each set of controller-contacts, and in the other theform of the ordinary electric motor geared or otherwise suitablyconnected to the shaft of the cylinder-on which the movable contacts ofthe controller are mounted. In the systems employing separately-actuatedcontacts it is a comparatively simple matter to produce simultaneouslyin all of the controllers governed from one master-controller a certaindefinite set of connections, since as the master-controller is movedinto each of its operative positions certain actuating-coils of themotor-controllers are immediately energized while the others remaindisconnected. When, however, the difierent controllers are operated eachby an electric motor connected to a controllercylinder, it becomesnecessary in order to secure the stopping of the cylinders at thedesired points to provide additional devices operated by themotor-controller to open the circuit of the actuating-motor when thecontroller has been moved into the desired position. By my invention Iam enabled to secure the simultaneous movement of any desired number ofcontroller-cylinders upon each movement of the master-controller and thestopping of the controller at the desired point without opening the conLrol-circuit between the actuatingmotor and the master-controller. Iattain this end by so constructing and connecting the devicesconstituting the controller-actuating motors that the torque whichiscreated in each actuating device when the mastercontroller is advancedby one step disappears as soon as it has moved the controller-cylinderthrough the required angle.

The devices which I employ for moving the motor-controllers I havetermed motors of position, since they are so constituted that they havedefinite positions of rest, into which the master-controller is advancedto each new position and in which they tend to remain until themaster-controller is again actuated. These motors of position comprisetwo relatively rotatable members provided with suitable windings. Thewinding of one of the members is so connected to a suitable source ofalternating-current supply that the memher will be polarized along acertain definite line or lines. The winding of the other memher isprovided with a plurality of terminals so arranged and so connected to amastercontroller that as the master-controller is moved from oneposition to another the said member will be polarized by induction indifferent directions. When thus polarized, the two members tend to comeinto a certain definite relation with respect to one another, and bycontrolling the direction of polarization of either of the members fromthe master-controller I am enabled to control the position of themotor-controllers connected thereto.

My invention will be better understood by referencevto the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, whileits scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l. is a diagram illustrating my invention in oneof its simplest forms. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a trainof cars, showing the application of myinvention thereto; and Fig. 3 is adiagram representing the apparatus and circuit c011- nections requiredfor a single car of a traincontrol system when operated according to myinvention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, in which I have shown several motors ofposit-ion connected to a single controlling device or master-controller,A, A, and A represent three dynamoelectric machines arranged to operateas motors of position, and E indicates a switch constituting a commoncontroller for the several machines. Each of these machines comprisestwo relatively movable members provided with windings which may be ofany desired type. For convenience in illustration 1 have shownring-windings on both members, the member having the winding B beingmounted for rotation and provided with collectingrings, to which itswinding is connected at diametrically opposite points a and Z). Thecollecting-rings on each of the machines are connected through brushesto the leads 1 and 2, which in turn are connected to a source ofalternating current, (indicated at D.) The winding C of each of themachines is tapped at three equidistant points 0, d, and c, and leadsfrom these points are carried to mains 3, 4, and 5, to which themaster-controller E is connected. This controller comprises a number offixed terminals connected to the mains 3, at, and 5 and a movablecontact-piece f, arranged to electrically connect any two of theaforesaid terminals. The operation of myinvent-ion as thus embodied maybe described as follows: The alternating-current source D, to which thewindings of the rotatable members of each of the machines A, A, A areconnected, operates to produce in said windings an alternatingpolarization along the line (L b. If now the winding 0 on the fixedmembers of each of the machines is short-circuited between any two ofits points, as by connecting together any two of the terminals c, d, and6, each of said windings will operate as the short-circuited secondaryof a transformer with respect to its corresponding winding B as aprimary and the movable memher will tend to take such a position thatthe current induced in the winding on the fixed member is reduced to aminimum. This condition occurs when the lines of polarization of the twomembers are at right angles to each other, and therefore whenever thewindings on the fixed members of the machines diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. l are shortcircuited between points located alongany chosen line the rotating member carrying the winding B will turnuntil its line of polarizationthat is, the line joining the points a andblies at right angles to the line along which the fixed member ispolarized.-

From the description already given it will be evident that it is notnecessary that the winding on the fixed membershould be tapped at thethree points illustrated in the drawings. The winding may be tapped atany desired number of points arranged at any desired angle with respectto each other, it being essential only in order to produce a rotation ofthe movable member of the machines A A, &c., by definite steps that thewinding on the fixed member be short-circuited along lines which aresuccessively angularly (lisplaced from one another. The particulararrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 has been chosen for illustrationbecause of its simplicity and its especial adaptability to atraincontrol system by reason of the small number of train-wiresrequired for its operation.

The master-controller E, as shown in Fig. l, is provided with fixedcontacts equal in number to twice the number of the points at which thewindings of the fixed members of the machines A, A, and A are tapped,each contact being cross-connected to a similar contact diametricallyopposite thereto. This particular arrangement is evidently notessential, but has been chosen for illustration for the reason that whenthe contacts are thus arranged a complete rotation of the mov ablecontact of the master-controller will produce a complete rotation of therotatable member of each of the motors of position.

With the movable contact fof the mastercontroller in the position shownin the drawings it will be seen'that the windings on the fixed membersof the several machines are short-circuited along the line connectingthe terminals 0 and (1, these terminals being connected together throughthe contacts 3 and t and the contactfof the masKer-controller. As abovestated, the movable member of each of the dynamo-electric machines tendsto come to rest in such a position that its line of polarization willlie at right angles to the line along which the fixed member ispolarized, and for the particular position of the mastercontroller shownin l the movable members of the machines A, A, and A are evi dently inthe position of rest, the line joining the points a I) being at rightangles to a line joining the points 0 and cl. If now the movable contactof the master-controller is rotated righ t-handedly into the positionshown in dotted lines, in which position it connects the cont-acts 3 and5", the terminals 0 and (1 will be disconnected and d and e connectedtogether. The fixed members of each of the machines, therefore, will beshort-circuited along the line d e, and due to the fact that the line ofpolarization of the rotatable memher now lies at an angle to the linealong which the Winding on the fixed member is short-circuited. thewinding on the rotatable member, acting as the primary of a transformer,will set up a considerable current in the winding on the fixed memberand the torque produced thereby will cause the rotatable member tomove.into such a position that its line of polarization will be at rightangles to the line joining the points 6 d. This evidently requires thatthe rotatable member shall move through an angle of sixty degrees. Ifafter the rotatable member has been brought to this position themaster-controller is moved into its next position right-handedly whereits movable contact connects the cont-acts 5 and 4:", the points 0 and 6will be connected together, thus short-circuiting the winding of thefixed member of the dynamo-electric machines along a line which is againdisplaced by sixty degrees from the line of polarization of therotatable member. Secondary currents will be generated in the fixedwinding, as before, and the torque produced thereby will cause therotatable member to move another sixty degrees until its line ofpolarization lies at right angles to the line joining the points 0 andc. A further rotation of the movable contact of the master-controllerwill short-circuit the winding of the fixed member of thedynai'no-electric machines again along the line 0 d, and this line beingdisplaced by sixty degrees from the line on which the secondary memberwas previously short-circuited the rotatable member will move throughanother sixty degrees, and so on for each successive movement of themaster-controller, until finally when the movable contact of themaster-controller again reaches the position shown in full lines in thedrawings the rotatable member of the dynamo-electric machine will havemoved through an angle of three hundred and sixty degrees back to itsoriginal position. Since the torque which tends to cause rotation of themovable member of the dynamo-electric machine is produced by reason ofthe angular relation existing between the line of polarization of themember excited from the source of alternating current and the line alongwhich the winding on the fixed member is short-circuited, it isessential, in order that the movement of the dynamo-electric inachinesmay correspond exactly with that of the m aster-controller, that theexcitation be strong enough to cause the movable member to change itsposition as quickly as the master-controller can be actuated from oneposition to another, or else that the master-controller be permitted toremain in each of its operative positions long enough for the movablemember of the dynamo-electric machine to come to rest before itis movedforward to another position. This result may be accomplished withoutrendering the torque of the dynamoelectric machines excessive byproviding the movable member of the mastercontroller with a suitableretarding device operating to enforce a slow movement of the same. Alsosince the position of rest of the dynamo-electric machines constitutingthe motors of position is a position of zero torque, while at the momentof moving the master-controller into each of its successive positionsthe torque is a maximum, a suit able stepped device, such as thestar-wheel of the ordinary controller, may be advantageously employedfor forcing the movable member into its position of rest.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have illustrated an application of my invention to atrain-control system for actuating the motor-controllers on a pluralityof cars from a master-controller located at any desired point on thetrain. In Fig. 2, L, L and L represent a plurality of cars united toconstitute a train and each provided with motors N N, thecontrollingcircuits of which are connected to a motorcontroller K. Ateach end of each car is provided a master-controller M, the contacts ofsaid controllers being connected to a system of conductors V, runningthroughout the train and suitably connected to the actuating devices forthe motor-controlling switches. Fig. 3 illustrates in diagram theapparatus and car-wiring for each car of the train illustrated in Fig.2. In this figure the numerals 3 to 9, inclusive, indicate the severaltrainconductors of the system V, each of these conductors being providedat each end with a suitable terminal t, by means of which it may beconnected to the corresponding trainconductor on the adjacent cars. Thecontroller K on each car is actuated through suitable gearing by meansof a dynamo-electric machine A, the windings of which are connectedaccording to the diagram of Fig. 1, and the alternating currentnecessary to excite the rotatable member of the dynamoelectric machine Ais obtained in the system illustrated (which is supposed to be theordinary direct-current system in common use for operating electricrailways) from a rotary converter D, the direct-current winding of whichis connected across the direct-current source between trolley andground.

Since in almost all motor-control systems it is necessary at times toreverse the direction of rotation of the motors, I have indicated at R areversing-switch for this purpose, the said reversing-switch beingactuated by the solenoid-coils r and r in a man ner now commonlyemployed in the art. I have not deemed it necessaryin the diagram ofFig. 2 to illustrate the connections of the motor-windings to thecontacts of the controller K and the reversing-switch R, since theseconnect-ions are well understood and have nothing to do with myinvention. At each end of the system of conductors V is connected amaster-controller M, the controller at the left being shown with itscontacts developed on a plane surface, as is customary indiagrammatically illustrating such structures, while the controller onthe right is indicated in outline merely. A switch S is provided betweeneach of the master-controllers and the conductors of the train-controlsystem, and all of the said switches except the one associated with themaster-controller from which the train is for the time being controlledare normally open. Assuming the parts to be in the positions illustratedin Fig. 3, with the switch S at the left in its closed position, directcurrent entering by way of the trolleyshoes T on each car and thetrain-conductor 8, to which these trolley-shoes are connected, will flowthrough one of the members of the switch S to the train wire 9 andthence through the direct-current winding of the rotary converters D oneach car to the other side of the supply system, here represented asground. The rotary converter on each motor-car will he immediately setinto operation and will supply an alternating current to the movablememberof each of the dynamoelectric machines A, thereby polarizing thesaid members. In the zero position of the master-controller the fixedcontacts 5 and 4c are connected together through the cross-connectedcontacts shown in the development at P. The movable member of themachine A therefore has no tendency to move, since it is in the positionto which it was brought when the master-controller was moved to its offposition. If, however, the master-controller be moved forward to itsfirst operative position, the contacts 5 and 4: will be disconnectedfrom one another and a connection made between the contacts 4 and 3,thus short-circu-iting thewinding on the fixed member of the machine Aalong a line displaced by sixty degrees from the line of polarization ofthe movable member, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The movable member of themachine A will therefore be caused to rotate and will be moved until thelines of polarization of its two members lie at right angles to eachotherthat is, through an angle of sixty degrees. Through the two gears Fand F the cylinder of. the motor-controller K is moved through acorresponding angle. The motor-controller is provided with the ordinarystar-wheel (not shown) for determining its positions of rest; but, ifdesired, the star-wheel may be applied directly to the machine A. Whenthe master-controller is moved into its second operative position, thecontacts 3 and t are disconnected and the contacts 3 and 5 connected toone another. The movable member of the machine A will now move forwardthrough another sixty-degree angle, thereby advancing the cylinder ofthe motor-controller K to its second operative position. 111 the nextposition of the master-controller the contacts 5 and 4: are againconnected to one another and the movable member of the machine A againmoved forward through sixty degrees.

The motor-controllers now ordinarily used have in the neighborhood ofnine or ten operative positions, and I have shown in the drawings asystem arranged to move the motor-controller through such a number ofpositions, the ratio between the gears F and F being such that onerotation of the machine A will rotate the controller cylinder connectedthereto through one hundred and eighty degrees. It will be noted that ateach third position of the master-controller the connections aresimilar, and evidently by a suitable choice of the ratio of gears F andF the con? troller K may be brought to rest in any desired number ofpositions in one revolution.

The construction and operation of the reversing-switch RS of themaster-controller are well understood in the art and requires noextended description, it being suflicient to state that when the movablecontacts of the said switch are in one position current is caused toflow through one of the solenoids r and r on each motor-car from trolleyto ground, and when in the other position through the other of saidsolenoid s, the motorreversing switches being operated by means of ayoke r, to which said solenoids are connected.

Although I have illustrated my invention as applied to a railway systemoperated from a directcurrent source only, the changes which would berequired when the propelling-motors are operated from analternatingcurrent source will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 1.In this case the machine D (shown in Fig. 3) would be omitted and theconductors 1 and 2 connected to the two sides of the alternating-currentsource of supply either directly or through a transformer. It is alsoevident that in a direct-current train system there need be but onerotary converter on the train; but in this case it would be necessary toadd two train-conductors to take the place of the conductors 1 2, whichconnect each rotary converter to its corresponding motor of position.

In illustrating my invention I have shown only the simplest form ofconnections for the dynamo-electric machines,the rotatable member beingpolarized along a single line only. It is clear, however, that insteadof a simple bipolar winding a winding producing any desired number ofpoles may be substituted.

Also I have illustrated the fixed member of the dynamo-electric machinewhich reproduces the movement to be transmitted as provided with threeterminals only, and this for the reason that such an arrangement offersconsiderable advantages in that six different positions of rest may beobtained with the use of only three conductors connecting thedynamo-electric machines to the mastercontrollers. It is evident,however, that any desired arrangement of the terminal connections forthe fixed member of the dynamoelectric machine may be employed and thatthese terminal connections may be so arranged that the saiddynamo-electric machine will move through different angles as themaster-controller is advanced in position instead of through angleswhich are always equal, as in the arrangement shown in the drawings. Thearrangement of the terminals of the secondary member which would appearmost simple to the eye would be such that in the operation of themaster-controller each terminal would be connected to a diametricallyopposite terminal in the winding. Such an arrangement would, however,evidently involve a larger number of conductors between thedynamo-electric machines and the master-controller than the arrangementshown in the drawings. Even with the arrangement shown in the drawingsit is evidently not necessary that the secondary member should beconnected in a single short circuit. In Fig. 1, for example, instead ofshort-circuiting the winding on the fixed member along a single line itmay be short-circuited at the same time along a line joining the points0 e and along anotherlinejoining the points ed, thereby producing aresultant polarization along a line parallel to the line 0t 12, and byarranging the master-controller so that it will close two such circuitsbetween each of its operative positions, as shown, a movement of themotor of position through an angle of thirty degrees instead of throughan angle of sixty degrees may be obtained.

In the embodiment of my invention which I have illustrated thealternating-current source is connected to fixed points in one of thewindings and the other is short-circuited along successively angularlydisplaced lines. It is clear, however, that a system in which one of thewindings is short-circuited along a definite fixed line and thealternating-current source successively connected to points in thewinding of the other member lying along angularly-displaced lines wouldfall within the scope of myinvention.

What Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In combination, a device to be controlled comprising relativelymovable members provided withsuitable windings, an alternatingcurrentsource connected to the winding on one of said members, and means forshortcircuiting the winding on the other member along a predeterminedline or lines.

2. In combination, a device to be controlled comprising relativelymovable members provided with suitable windings, an alternatingcurrentsource connected to the winding on one of said members, and means forsuccessively short -circuiting the winding on the other member alonglines angularly displaced from one another.

3. In combination, a device to be controlled comprising relativelymovable members provided with suitable windings, an alternatingcnrrentsource connected to the winding on one of said members, a plurality ofleads connected to points in the winding on the other member, and aswitch for connecting together different leads in its differentoperative positions.

4:. In combination, a device to be controlled comprising relativelymovable members pro vided with suitable windings, an alternatingcurrentsource connected to the winding on one of said members, a plurality ofleads connected to points in the winding on the other member, and aswitch for successively connecting the said leads in differentcombinations.

5. In combination, adevice to be controlled comprising relativelymovable members provided with suitable windings, means forsupplyingalternating current to the winding on one of said members, ashort-circuiting'device for the winding on the other member, and meansfor producing a relative movement between the points in the Windingconnected to the alternating-current source, and the points throughwhich the short circuit is completed.

6. As a means for transmitting a determinate movement, a devicecomprising relatively movable members provided with suit.- ablewindings, an alternating-current source of supply for one of saidmembers, a shortcircuiting device for the other member, and meanslocated at a distant point for relatively shifting the points ofconnection to the source of su pply and the points through which theshort circuit is completed.

7. In combination, a device to be controlled comprising relativelymovable members, a source of alternating-current supply connected to thewinding on one of said members, means for short-circuiting the windingon the other member, and means for changing the line of short circuit ofthe latter member relatively to the line of polarization of the othermember.

8. In combination, adevice to be controlled comprising relativelymovable members provided with suitable windings, a source of alternatingcurrent, means for supplying current from said source to the winding onone of said members, a short circuit for the other member, and means forrelatively displacing the line of short circuit of one member and theline of polarization of the other.

9. In combination, a device to be controlled, an actuating devicetherefor, an alternating- IIO current source for supplying current tosaid actuating device, and a controlling device for closing a circuit toproduce a definite movement of said actuating device.

10. In a system of train control, a motorcontroller having a series ofoperative positions, an actuating device therefor, analternating-current source for supplying current to said actuatingdevice, a master-controller having a series of positions correspondingto the positions of the motorcontroller, and means whereby a movement ofthe mastercontroller, from one position to another, produces in theactuating device, a torque which gradually decreases as themotor-controller is moved to the corresponding position.

11. In a system of train control, a motorcontroller having a series ofoperative positions, an actuating device therefor, analternating-current source for supplying current to said actuatingdevice, and a master-controller having a series of operative positionscorresponding to the positions of the motorcontroller, saidmaster-controller operating to produce in the actuating device, a torquegradually decreasing with the movement of said device and disappearingwhen it reaches a position corresponding to that of the controllingdevice.

12. In a system of train control, a motorcontroller, an actuating devicetherefor, an alternating-current source for supplying current to saidactuating device, a master-controller,and means whereby a move ment ofthe master-controller produces, in the actuating device, a torque whichgradually decreases with the movement of said device and disappears whenthe motor-controller reaches aposition corresponding to that of themaster-controller.

13. In a system of train control, a motorcontroller, an actuating devicetherefor comprising relatively movable members, a source ofalternating-current supply connected to the winding on one of saidmembers, a system of train-conductors to which the winding on the othermember is connected, and a master-controller connected to saidtrainconductors and arranged to successively short-circuit the saidwinding along lines angularly displaced from one another.

1%. In a system of train control for directcurrent motors, amotor-controller, an actuating device therefor comprising relativelymovable members, a rotary converter operated from the direct-currentsource and having its alternatirig-current side connected to the windingon one of said members, a system of train-conductors to which thewinding on the other member is connected, and a master-controller,connected to the said trainconductors, constructed and arranged tosuecessively short-circuit the winding on said member alongangularly-displaced lines.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day ofSeptember, 1900.

DAVID P. THOMSON. Witnesses:

DUGALD MOKILLOP, HENRY O. WESTENDARP.

